Resource Based Teaching / Skill Instruction:

  • SIS Research Wiki designed and maintain to provide Big 6 skill instructional support including: search engine choices, safe image sites, web site evaluation, note-taking templates, research product tip guides, subscription database screencasts, and citation / style guides
  • All Grade 7 students receive an orientation to the library media center focusing on procedures, library terms, location/access of materials, and locating information within a website


Grade 7


2
45 minute
sessions

  • Greeting and introduction of LM staff
  • Review SIS LMC layout.
  • Review book exchange procedures
  • Review 3R’s of LMC Guidelines (respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness)
  • Demonstrate Destiny, automated card catalog
  • Review LMC terms using LMC Millionaire PowerPoint instructional strategy
  • Review website navigation using the Internet Workshop model
  • Dewey Decimal signage is displayed on book shelves to assist students with independent search skills
  • Designed web site evaluation checklists and use as "mouse pads" next to each LM computer workstation
  • Display information and technology literacy concepts on word walls
  • Collaborative research units have been created. Please see 2009/2010 projects on the LM Instructional Collaboration chart
  • Revised Science Fair Resource Wiki to provide online resources to participating students
  • Successfully advocated and secured district funding to bring “River City” grade 7 science research to SIS students. This integrates MUVE (multi user virtual environment) technology into a unit with learning objectives on water/ air/ insect borne diseases and the scientific research process. Collaborative instruction with two science teaches and their eight class sections
  • Implemented Internet Safety web quest for Grade 7 students
  • Acquired much needed digital cameras (2) and Flip camcorders (4) for student academic use

Collection: (Estimated)
The SIS library media collection currently has a full inventory in progress. It is understood that there has not been a full inventory completed since SIS opened in 2001. Thus, collection statistics are estimates based on a Follett Library Resources collection analysis, Destiny (library catalog) collection statistics, and shelf read counts. The full collection inventory is targeted for completion Fall of 2010.
After the full inventory is completed collection statistics can reliably be reported from Destiny.

  • Approximately 870 students
  • Print Collection 12,300 (estimate)
  • Average books per student 14 (state recommends 25)
  • Periodical Titles 26 (state average 27)
  • Online Subscription Databases 11 (iConn.org – free state resource available; EBSCOhost available through SHS subscription)
  • Video Collection 608
  • New Books Added 640
  • Deselected Books (weeded due to age, poor condition, inaccuracy)
    • Follow a systematic work plan to “weed” age sensitive Dewey Ranges consistent with C-R-E-W (Continuous Review Evaluation and Weeding) and M-U-S-T-I-E (misleading, ugly, superseded, trivial, irrelevant, elsewhere) guidelines.
  • A collection analysis was run using Follett Library Resources on May 13, 2010. A print copy of the report is available upon request. In essence, the results revealed:
    • Data integrity of the SIS collection is 98.98% (good)
    • In this school year, the average copyright of our collection is 1991
    • Imbalance in the print collection exists primarily in Reference, Social Sciences (below standards) and General Fiction (above standards)
    • Age sensitivity is most acute (poorest) in Geography, Social Sciences, Astronomy and Life Sciences

Staffing:



Facility:

  • The library media center can accommodate two classes with seating at eight tables and 31 computer workstations.
  • Four study carrels are available for student use.
  • There are 31 computers for student use in the library media center with a dedicated networked printer
  • Server file storage is available for students and staff.
  • Teachers and students can access instructional web sites from home via wikis published to support collaborative projects.
  • Two zones of independent reading / small group work with comfortable seating have been added.

Environment:

  • Science Fair projects and Grade 8 art sculptures were displayed to the benefit and enjoyment of visiting patrons
  • The SIS LMC is truly a multi-purpose learning environment with several distinct usage zones: print collection / circulation; open technology lab; class instructional workspace; small collaborative work cluster, independent reading cluster, and professional staff work room.

Cooperation with Public Library

  • Collaboration with Plumb Memorial Library on Assignment Alerts to furnish students with curriculum related books for research that may not be available at SIS.
  • Collaboration with Plumb Memorial Library on the Grades 7 and 8 “Summer Reading” program.

District Support: Grants, Committees and Professional Development

  • Won the 2010 Connecticut Association of School Librarians Collaboration Award for excellence in instructional collaboration between a school librarian and classroom educator for work on an Internet Safety unit for grade 7 students
  • Presented at Tech Expo for Connecticut Educators' Computer Association (CECA) on integration of Web 2.0 tools into instruction
  • Authored SPS Library Media Policy and Procedures Guidelines, currently pending BOE review
  • Coordinated scheduling of Richard Byrne (Free Technology for Teachers blog) as feature presenter at 2010 CECA conference
  • Designed and co-delivered literacy workshop on “Closing the Achievement Gap with Direct Vocabulary Instruction” professional development at 4th Annual Literacy Essentials Conference at Central Connecticut State University
  • Designed and maintain the Teaching American History: Democratic Vistas website in support of a federal Department of Education grant awarded to Shelton, New Haven, and Trumbull school districts.
  • Researched application tutorials for (VoiceThread, Podcasting, Glogster) and designed a professional development wiki providing educational technology applications aligned with the 2010 Teaching American History Democratic Vistas Summer Institute session, "Technology to Support Interviews".
  • Masters of Educational Technology, UConn/NEAG (Degree Completion July 2009)
  • Obtained Teacher Certification as Quest Atlantis (University of Indiana MUVE research project) instructor
  • Completed iSafe Internet Safety online training and updated certification
  • Attended Infinite Campus introductory training
  • Library Media Curriculum Committee (on-going)
  • SIS Literacy Committee ( committee inactive for 2009/2010)
  • Educational Technology Committee (committee inactive for 2009/2010)
  • Member American Library Association
  • Member American Association of School Librarians
  • Member Connecticut Association of School Librarians
  • Member Connecticut Educational Media Association

Communication and Public Relations:

  • Created and published Library Media services advocacy multi-media presentation
  • Author quarterly "Library Matters" articles for the SIS PTO online newsletter, The Viking Voice
  • Extensive online presence is provided with the SIS LMC Wiki
  • All faculty members received a brochure describing the role of the teacher/librarian; library media services; and the library media center mission
  • All faculty surveyed regarding classroom instructional audio visual needs; results shared
  • Conducted a series of seven "Tech Tip Tuesday" workshops via online tutorials for staff interested in Web 2.0 professional development
  • Create and publish online, Destiny (library catalog) Resource Lists of SIS LMC print materials in response to teacher curriculum support requests
  • Overdue notices are issued to students each month as needed
  • Publication of year-end SIS LMC Annual Report. (online and on-going)
  • On-going e-mail staff advisories sharing technology integration tips

Motivational Reading Campaigns:


  • Fall - Nutmeg Award book program. There were 281 Grades 7and 8 students participating in voting for their favorite book.
  • Spring - Author visit by Jake Halpern; Dormia book series

Circulation / Activity Statistics through May 2010: (Under revision)

Month
Books Loaned
Collaborative Lessons
Wiki Page Views
September
2029
87
9851
October
1835
67
8939
November
1424
60
9192
December
1131
41
2877
January
1565
71
3228
February
996
31
5230
March
1530
75
7315
April
1171
20
6225
May
(see Note)

992

34

4496
Student instruction only; collaborative prep meetings with teachers not included.
  • Note: May scheduling was limited by CBAS testing and the Spring Book Fair
  • Students used our “virtual learning resource” wikis available 24/7 for over 57,000 views!



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